House of Lords Journal Volume 16: 11 February 1701

DIE Martis, 11 Februarii.

Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes fuerunt:

PRAYERS.

Ld. Halifax introduced:

This Day Charles Lord Halifax, being, by Letters Patents, dat. Decimo Tertio Die Decembris, 12° Gul. Tertii, created Lord Halifax, was, in his Robes, introduced, between the Lord Bergevenny and the Lord Wharton; the Lord Willughby of Ersby executing the Place of Lord Great Chamberlain; the Deputy Usher of the Black Rod and the Herald at Arms preceding.

His Lordship presented his Patent to the Speaker, on his Knee, at the Woolsack; who delivered it to the Clerk; and being read at the Table; as also his Writ of Summons being read, as followeth; (videlicet,)

His Writ of Summons.

"Gulielmus Tertius, Dei Gratia, Angl. Scoc. Franc. & Hib'niæ Rex, Fidei Defensor, &c. Prædilecto et perquam Fideli Consiliario Nostro Carolo Montague, de Halifax, Ch'r, Salutem. Quia de Avisamento et Assensu Concilii Nostri, pro quibusdam arduis et urgentibus Negotiis, Nos, Statum et Defensionem Regni Nostri Angl. et Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ concernen. quoddam Parliamentum Nostrum apud Civitatem Nostram Westm. Sexto Die Februarii prox. futur. teneri ordinavimus, et ibidem vobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus dicti Regni Nostri, Colloquium habere et Tractatum; vobis, sub Fide et Ligeantia quibus (fn. 1) Nobis tenemini, firmiter injungendo mandamus, quod, consideratis dictorum Negotiorum Arduitate et Periculis imminentibus, cessante Excusatione quacunque, dictis Die et Loco personaliter intersitis, Nobiscum, ac cum Prælatis, Magnatibus, et Proceribus prædict. super dict. Negotiis tractatur. vestrumque Consilium impensur. Et hoc, sicut Nos et Honorem Nostrum, ac Salvationem et Defensionem Regni et Ecclesiæ præd. Expeditionemque dictorum Negotiorum diligitis, nullatenus omittatis.

"Teste Meipso, apud Westm. Vicesimo Sexto Die Decembr. Anno Regni Nostri Duodecimo.

"Trevor.
Dauling."

His Lordship was accordingly placed on the Barons Bench; and then came to the Table, and took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, pursuant to the Statute.

Lords take the Oaths.

The Lords following took the Oaths, and made and subscribed the Declaration, pursuant to the Statute; (videlicet,)

Then the House was adjourned during Pleasure, to robe.

The House was resumed.

His Majesty, being seated on His Royal Throne, adorned with His Crown and Regal Ornaments (the Peers being also in their Robes), commanded the Deputy Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod to go to the House of Commons, and let them know, "It is His Majesty's Pleasure, that they attend Him presently."

Mr. Harley, Speaker of H. C. presented, and approved of.

Who being come, they presented Robert Harley Esquire, whom they had chosen to be their Speaker, for His Majesty's Royal Approbation.

And after a short Speech made by him to His Majesty, desiring His Majesty to excuse him from that Service:

The Lord Keeper, by His Majesty's Command, acquainted the House of Commons, "That His Majesty was pleased to approve of the Choice they had made, and did allow of Mr. Harley to be their Speaker."

Then Mr. Speaker returned His Majesty Thanks, for His Gracious Approbation of the Choice and Acceptance of his Service; and humbly prayed, in the Name of the Commons,

"That His Majesty would be graciously pleased to allow and confirm all their ancient Rights and Privileges; particularly, That they might have Liberty and Freedom of Speech in all their Debates.

"That their Persons, Estates, and Servants, be free from Arrests and Troubles.

"That they may have Access to His Royal Person, as Occasion shall require.

"That His Majesty would have a gracious Opinion of all their Actions; and that, if himself at any Time should mistake, he might have His Majesty's favourable Interpretation and gracious Pardon."

Then the Lord Keeper, by His Majesty's further Command, said,

"Mr. Speaker,

"His Majesty is pleased to say, That He is fully assured of the Prudence and Discretion, as well as of the Affections, of His House of Commons; and as to the Suit which you have made in their Name, His Majesty does most willingly grant to them all their Privileges, in as full a Manner as they were ever granted by any of His Royal Predecessors: As to what you have prayed in relation to yourself, the King will put the best and most favourable Construction upon your Endeavours, being satisfied, that you have a Heart full of Loyalty to Him, and of Zeal for the Good of your Country."

Then His Majesty spake as followeth:

King's Speech.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"Our great Misfortune in the Loss of the Duke of Gloucester, hath made it absolutely necessary, that there should be a further Provision for the Succession to the Crown in the Protestant Line, after Me and the Princess. The Happiness of the Nation, and the Security of our Religion, which is our chiefest Concern, seem so much to depend upon this, that I cannot doubt but it will meet with a general Concurrence; and I earnestly recommend it to your early and effecttual Consideration.

"The Death of the late King of Spain, with the Declaration of His Successor to that Monarchy, has made so great an Alteration in the Affairs Abroad, that I must desire you very maturely to consider their present State: And I make no Doubt, but your Resolutions thereupon will be such, as shall be most conducing to the Interest and Safety of England, the Preservation of the Protestant Religion in general, and the Peace of all Europe.

"These Things are of such Weight, that I have thought them most proper for the Consideration of a new Parliament, to have the more immediate Sense of the Kingdom in so great a Conjuncture.

"I must desire of you, Gentlemen of the House of Commons, such Supplies, as you shall judge necessary for the Service of the current Year: And I must particularly put you in Mind of the Deficiencies and Public Debts, occasioned by the late War, that are yet unprovided for.

"I am obliged further to recommend to you, that you would inspect the Condition of the Fleet; and consider what Repairs or Augmentations may be requisite for the Navy; which is the great Bulwark of the English Nation, and ought, most especially in this Conjuncture, to be put in a good Condition: And that you would consider, what is proper for the better Security of those Places where the Ships are laid up in Winter.

"The Regulation and Improvement of our Trade is of so public Concern, that I hope it will ever have your serious Thoughts; and if you can find proper Means of setting the Poor at Work, you will easo yourselves of a very great Burthen, and, at the same Time, add so many useful Hands to be employed in our Manufactures, and other public Occasions.

"My Lords and Gentlemen,

"I hope there will be such an Agreement and Vigour, in the Resolutions you shall take upon the important Matters now before you, as may make it appear we are firmly united among ourselves; and, in My Opinion, nothing can contribute more to our Safety at Home, or to our being considerable Abroad."

Then His Majesty was pleased to withdraw; and the Commons went to their House.

Stoppages in the Streets, Order to prevent.

Upon Complaint made to this House, "That there is such an Interruption, by Hackney Coaches, Carts, and Drays, in King Street, and the Passages in The Old Palace Yard, Westm'r, that the Lords and others are frequently hindered from coming to this House, to the great Inconveniency of the Members of both Houses:"

It is thereupon ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That the High Steward of the City of Westminster, or his Deputy, together with the Justices of the Peace of the said City, shall, by their Care and Directions to the Constables and other Officers within the said Limits, take special Order, that no empty Hackney Coaches be suffered to make any Stay, between White-hall and The Old Palace Yard in Westm'r, from Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon until Three of the Clock in the Afternoon of the same Day, during the Sitting of this Parliament; and that no Carriages, Drays, or Carts, be permitted to pass through the said Streets and Passages, between the Hours aforesaid, during the Sitting of this Parliament; and herein special Care is to be taken, by the said Deputy Steward, Justices of the Peace, Constables, and all other Officers herein concerned, as the contrary will be answered to this House.

Yeoman Usher's Place:

The House being informed, "That Mr. Coolinge, late Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod, was dead; and that Sir David Mitchell, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, had appointed another Person to officiate in that Place; as also that Mr. Cooling's Son had a Patent for executing the Office of Yeoman Usher in this House:"

Upon Consideration whereof, it is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That it shall be, and is hereby, referred to the Lords Committees for Privileges, to consider of the Right and Claim of both Parties to the said Office of Yeoman Usher, and to hear such Persons concerning the same as they shall think fit, and report their Opinion thereupon to this House; and that the Committee do meet To-morrow, at Ten of the Clock in the Forenoon.

Message from the King, concerning Gentleman Usher's Place.

The Lord Keeper, by His Majesty's Command, acquainted the House, "That His Majesty having Occasion for Sir David Mitchell Black Rod, in another Place, so that he could not attend the Service of this House, His Majesty therefore hath appointed Mr. Aston to attend as Deputy Black Rod; and that Sir David Mitchell also humbly desires your Lordships Acceptance of Mr. Aston as his Deputy."

King's Speech to be considered.

After reading His Majesty's most Gracious Speech, made this Day to both Houses of Parliament:

It is ORDERED, by the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament assembled, That this House shall take the said Speech into Consideration To-morrow, at Twelve of the Clock; and all the Lords summoned to attend.

Adjourn.

Dominus Custos Magni Sigilli declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Mercurii, (videlicet,) duodecimum diem instantis Februarii, hora undecima Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.